Suffocating, So Suffocating

I have to stop Seo Hamin from turning dark while liberating Seo Hayun.

The easiest way is Seo Hamin's death.

That would naturally sever the connection with Seo Hayun and prevent the blackening as well.

But the second quest restricts Seo Hamin's death.

Besides, Seo Hayun probably wouldn't want her own liberation to come at the cost of her sister's life.

So for now, I decided to learn more about the two of them and their relationship.

To truly understand the meaning of the Liberation quest, I need to know the Seo sisters in greater detail.

How they see each other.

How they treat each other.

What they want from each other.

Listening only to Seo Hayun won't cut it.

The surest way is to observe them objectively, from a third-party perspective.

And the more eyes watching, the better.

Diverse viewpoints will give diverse assessments.

"Be honest."

"About what?"

"You're doing this so you can get your hands on Seo Hayun too, aren't you?!"

"No, I'm not."

Already did, actually.

I turned my head to escape Jihye's gaze, thick with suspicion and jealousy, only to find Nari standing a step away with her arms crossed, staring straight at me.

"Where did you go at dawn? Don't tell me you went to see Hayun."

"W-what are you talking about? Where would I have gone at dawn? I just slept in my room."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Don't lie. We have a witness."

"A witness…?"

"……"

"……"

I looked in the direction Nari indicated with a tilt of her chin. Outside the large veranda window, Jaeyeol and Baek Sihyeon were crouched on top of a car, watching me with narrowed eyes.

Don't tell me they stayed up all night spying on me?!

That bastard Jaeyeol—I told him to keep an eye on An Gyeongsu…!

"Alright. Speak up now."

"……"

The far more polite tone than a moment ago somehow sounded even more terrifying.

But then a situation arrived that saved me.

"They're here. Let's go."

"Oppa! Answer before you leave!"

"Aren't the two of us enough for you?! You pervert!!!"

Leaving Nari and Jihye behind in the house, I hurriedly opened the veranda window and bolted outside.

An older apartment complex along the Han River, hundreds of meters away from both the commercial-residential building we were staying in and the villa where Seo Hayun lived.

The reason I'd brought the group here first thing in the morning was partly to scavenge for food, but mainly because of what Seo Hayun had told me at dawn.

That the villa people ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠came here to gather food and, if possible, rescue any survivors they might find.

"You…"

"We meet again, Kim Hyeonsu."

I greeted him with genuine warmth.

I'd expected us to have to track them down by the sound of the zombies, but they'd come right to where we were waiting of their own accord.

And they'd brought Seo Hamin and Seo Hayun along with the rest of their people.

"What brings you here, Kang Juhan? Are you staying in this area?"

"Let's deal with those first."

"Kraaagh!!!"

"Kraaaaaagh!!!"

"Kraaagh!!!"

"Kraaaaagh!!"

"Kraaa!!"

The zombies that had been chasing the villa people poured into the apartment complex as well.

No walls, just flower beds, and no front gate to block the entrance—there were only two ways to handle the zombies.

One was to take shelter inside the apartments.

The other was to take them out.

Crunch!!!

Slash!!

Thrust!!

Stab!

Slash!!

Thud!!

Seventeen on our side, roughly the same number from the villa.

With over thirty people, more than fifty zombies were easy enough to handle.

Of course, continuous fighting was impossible.

Human numbers were fixed—and could even shrink—while zombies kept getting reinforcements.

Still, now was the time to fight.

I needed to see how Seo Hamin treated Seo Hayun in a situation like this.

"Hayun! Hide behind Unnie!"

"I can fight too!"

"Seo Hayun! Are you not going to listen to me?!"

"But I can do it…"

"Kraaaaagh!!!!"

She was treating her like a complete child.

So that was why Hayun had followed me out when I suggested leaving without Seo Hamin—to prove she could handle herself.

But this still wasn't enough.

If I'd had a little sister, I probably would have done the exact same thing.

"We can't hold them any longer!"

"You're right. Let's head inside."

"Everyone this way!"

"No. That way."

"……"

"Let's go."

"Yes, hyung."

"Yes, oppa!"

We went back inside through the same veranda we'd used to come out.

Even though it was the first floor, there was enough of a height difference from the ground that the zombies couldn't climb up.

"Huff… huff… Wow… this is the first time I've fought zombies like that…"

"Right…? But it was more doable than I expected."

"Doable my ass! We didn't even last five minutes! Ow, my back…"

About half the villa people were gasping for breath, while our entire group sat around looking completely at ease.

It wasn't so much that our stats were overwhelmingly better—the villa people had already burned a lot of stamina getting here and then jumped straight into the fight.

Still, Kim Hyeonsu, the men who'd climbed the wall with him last time, and both Seo Hamin and Seo Hayun showed no signs of fatigue.

Seo Hayun, of course, because she hadn't done anything.

But isn't this a bit much coddling?

"Are you hurt anywhere??"

"No… I didn't do anything…"

"Stand up."

"I really am fine…!"

"Now!"

"Seriously…"

Seo Hamin pulled the dejected, crouching Seo Hayun to her feet and carefully checked her from fingertips to toes for any injuries.

Apparently still not satisfied, she eventually dragged her into the bathroom.

Probably planning to strip her and examine her more thoroughly.

Yeah, that would feel pretty stifling.

"Will you answer me now? Are you staying here?"

Whether his wariness of me was that strong or he simply had no intention of resting, Kim Hyeonsu approached without pause and asked the question.

"No. But why do you ask?"

"If you were living here, it would be rude of us to take food from this place."

"Ah~ If that's all, don't worry about it. We got here first, but feel free to take whatever you need. We'll grab a reasonable amount ourselves, of course."

"Thank you for your consideration."

"Really?"

"Pardon??"

"If you're truly grateful, would you mind granting me one request?"

"What kind of request?"

"I'd like us to stay with you for about three days. At that villa of yours. We only just arrived in this area and haven't found our footing yet."

"……"

Kim Hyeonsu's expression hardened instantly.

He didn't answer right away, just stared at my face with a look full of calculation.

And the answer that finally came after that wait was, as expected, a refusal.

"I'm sorry. That doesn't seem like something I can decide on my own."

"Then we can just hear everyone else's opinions right now."

"……"

"Everyone, would it be alright if we imposed on you for just three days? In return, we'll actively help gather food and take only the bare minimum for ourselves. And if any of you still have uncleared quests, we'll help with those too."

My words set the crowd murmuring.

Help with food, and quests on top of that.

From people who, as they'd just seen with their own eyes, were considerably strong.

That was why we'd fought the zombies.

To check how Seo Hamin treated Seo Hayun, and at the same time to show everyone our strength.

But of course they'd be uneasy.

The stronger we were, the greater the worry and anxiety.

However—Jihye, Nari, Seonye, Jeongyeon, Huijin, Yu Eunseol, Kim Seojeong.

With seven women among us, and them acting this friendly, wariness was bound to ease.

"Us? We came from Yeouido~"

"Yeouido??"

"Pretty far, right? Hee~"

"You don't have to look that impressed~"

"We are pretty impressive, but this much is just basic. Hehe~"

"But how did you get all the way here from there?"

"We lucked into a boat. Not us—Juhan oppa over there found it."

"A boat??"

"Yes."

"Where is that boat now??"

"Near Hannam Bridge. But the motor broke, so we just left it."

"Aww, what a waste..!!"

"Yeah! Someone might have been able to fix it!"

The three college girls were putting in a stellar performance.

Jihye, Nari, and Kim Seojeong should have been joining in to help lower everyone's guard, but—

"……"

"……"

"……"

Jihye and Nari were too busy monitoring me, and Kim Seojeong was too busy monitoring Choi Junseok, to have any energy left for small talk.

"If you like her that much, just go confess already..!!"

Choi Junseok, who'd been sneaking glances at Seo Hayun as she emerged from the bathroom looking even more dejected, finally got ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an earful from Kim Seojeong.

"I-I wasn't looking at anything! I wasn't staring!"

"I never said you were staring."

"Ah…"

"Why? Who were you looking at?"

"N-no one! Really, no one!"

"We're breaking up."

"Seojeong..!!"

"I don't care! Don't touch me!"

"What's wrong with you, seriously..!! You know you're the only one for me..!!"

"Yeah, right."

Kim Seojeong had more of a temper than I expected.

Honestly, that was a relief.

Jihye and Nari might glare daggers, but at least they didn't try to devour me the way ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seojeong was going after Junseok.

But wanting freedom because of excessive caretaking?

In a world like this, wasn't that only natural?

"Unnie…"

"What? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"

"No, it's not that… Can I talk with Eunseol for a bit…?"

"Eunseol?"

"That pretty girl over there… We met last time… and she's the same age as me…"

"……"

"Unnie…"

"Go ahead."

"Okay! Thanks!"

She needs permission even for something like that?

No—that part is Seo Hayun's fault.

She could just walk over and talk, but asking for permission like that only makes her sister treat her more like a child.

Then again, a kid is a kid.

"Eunseol! You fought so well earlier! The way you went whoosh-whoosh-whoosh, you looked just like a movie protagonist!"

"……"

"How are you so strong?? I've done a lot of quests and raised my stats a ton, but… I still can't fight like you…"

"Keep fighting. Then you'll get stronger."

"Ah… I want to, but… Then Eunseol! You teach me! How to fight!"

"I'll teach you!"

"Yeah! We'll…"

The moment Jaemin and Yeonghun, who'd been listening from a short distance, started to approach, Seo Hamin stepped between them and Seo Hayun.

"Back off."

"Whoa…"

"You're beautiful…"

Those crazy bastards.

In the webtoon she only ever appeared as a deranged murderess, so I hadn't realized—but being Seo Hayun's sister, her looks were far from ordinary.

She was actually taller, about the same as Jihye at 168 cm, and her face had a sharper, more refined version of Seo Hayun's features.

In any case, she was far too pretty to dismiss as average.

"You're Yu Eunseol, right?"

"Yes."

"Don't say things like that so casually. Not everyone can fight the way you do."

"……"

Yu Eunseol's expression hardened.

Yes—hit her with that!

"Yes."

"Hayun, come here."

"Uh, Unnie..!"

Why just answer "yes" there?!

You were supposed to push back against the coddling, not just take it!

In the end, frustrated, I stepped in front of Seo Hamin as she tried to pull Seo Hayun away from Yu Eunseol's side.

"Do you have something to say?"

"If you die, does Seo Hayun have to die too?"

"Hey!"

"It's fine, Hyeonsu. If you have something to say, say it clearly. Don't beat around the bush."

"I understand being worried because she's your little sister. I would be the same. But this is excessive."

"What exactly is excessive?"

"Seo Hayun is twenty years old. She's an adult. You need to let her handle her own basic affairs. Not step in and do everything for her. If something happens like last time—if you're not there, or if something goes wrong and you can't be by her side—Seo Hayun, who's relied only on you, won't be able to do anything. She'll just panic, tremble, and cry by herself."

"I appreciate the advice. But that's far enough. From now on Hayun will never be alone, and I will never die and leave her behind."

"So you're going to spend your whole life wrapping her in cotton wool? From what I've seen, you won't even let her talk to any man except Kim Hyeonsu. Is that really the life your sister wants?"

"……"

"Your sister is not a doll. Don't force her into your dollhouse game. For your sake, and for hers."

Seo Hamin's face, as cold as Yu Eunseol's, twisted slightly.

Even the voice that slipped between her lips rose a notch.

"Don't speak so carelessly..! What do you know about us that you can talk like that?!"

"I don't know. That's why I'm only saying what I can see. From the outside, your sister looks extremely stifled. Because of you."

"No. If that's how it looks, then Kang Juhan is mistaken."

"Why is Seo Hamin the one deciding that?"

"Because she's my little sister…!"

"Seo Hayun."

"Y-yes..?"

"What about you?"

"……"

"Ah… I-I…"

Hard to speak with her sister right there?

But if Seo Hayun doesn't make an effort, this relationship probably won't change.

Not unless Seo Hamin actually dies.

"It's stifling…"

"Hayun…"

"I know! I know how much Unnie loves me! How much she worries! But I can do things too… I want to help Unnie… I also…!"

"Who asked you to help?!"

"Unnie…"

"What if you get hurt?! What if you die?! Unnie only has you…!"

"I-I'm sorry… But I…!"

"Stop."

"……"

"Just stop. You being by Unnie's side is already more than enough help. Unnie will handle your share too. So don't think those useless thoughts."

"……"

"Answer me."

"……"

"Seo Hayun!"

"O-okay… I got it, so don't be mad…"

"Haa… Sorry. Unnie's sorry for raising her voice."

Wow. Watching this is making me even more frustrated.

I acknowledge that her heart is in the right place.

I acknowledge that she's doing her absolute best as an older sister.

But Seo Hamin is Seo Hamin, and Seo Hayun is Seo Hayun.

Each has her own life.

Bending everything to fit one person like this simply shouldn't happen.

I hadn't realized, though.

That she was controlling Seo Hayun several times more severely than anything I'd seen so far.

"Eat this."

"I'm fine. Unnie, you eat…"

"Eat."

"Okay…"

"And drink this."

"Okay…"

"Your clothes are dirty. Let's change. Unnie will bring them, so wait here."

"I can go find them myself…!"

"……"

"I-I'll stay here…"

What she eats, what she drinks, what she wears—even who she talks to and when she goes to the bathroom—everything happens under Seo Hamin's control.

Of course, none of it is actually harmful to Seo Hayun.

It's just care so thorough it chokes the air out of the room.

Is that why?

Even this crazy pervert god seems unable to take it anymore.

But isn't this the story you wrote?

Is this quest a chat window or what?

Now it's just writing whatever it wants to say.

Anyway, is it really okay to use this?

The Cursed Random Box I got after taking Seo Hayun's virginity.

The name was so ominous I'd never used it, but it looks like I have no choice.

Living my whole life this stifled would be worse than just dying.

And of course it gives me the most random crap imaginable.

Candy instead of medicine?

Inside a tiny cylindrical sample container like the ones for cosmetic samples sat a white pill-shaped candy.

And what the hell am I supposed to do with this, you perverted bastard!!

A linked quest, just like the ones I got at the department store.

What kind of scheme is this bastard pulling this time…!